"PLAY ME, I'M YOURS!" NEC + STREET PIANOS
IN DEFENSE OF FALL
PENGUIN PROFILE: STEVE DRURY
PG. 13
PG. 6
ADVICE FOR THE COOKINGIMPAIRED
REMEMBERING ANDREW "DREW" THOMPSON
PG. 10
PG. 4
THE PENGUIN
PG. 5
ISSUE 54
OCTOBER 24, 2013
N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
MEET THE FACES BEHIND THE CSA!
BOO-- The Penguin is Back!
Apart from our special back-to-school issue, this is our first collaborative issue of the year and we're thrilled to be back! We have several new Penguin Penmen on board this year, and we're looking forward to continuing to provide you with a mix of news, entertainment, and ways to help you enjoy your time in Boston. Since Halloween is only one week away, we'd like to invite you to take a break from bingeing on pre-holiday candy (yes, we're looking at YOU, mini-Snickers hoarder!), and reflect on what this time of year means to you. Read Raley Beggs' piece about coming to terms with cold weather or Lucy Chapman's
piece on battling stage fright, which for many represents a much more "real" fear than vampires and ghosts. Or, if you simply need help choosing your Halloween costume for next week, Andrew Nissen has got you covered-- just turn the page! As always, the Penguin relies on your continued contributions. Write about what you love, snap a photo, draw an illustration or comic, or interview somebody you think deserves a moment in the spotlight. We're always listening at thepenguin@necmusic.edu, or you can stop by to chat during our office hours (Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. in the SAC). Happy Halloween, NEC!
penguin CULTURE The Fear Dragon
by PROF. LUCY CHAPMAN Chamber Music Chair
I have lived long enough to have many stories of how I have
denly instead of fear I began to feel anger. "Stop it!" I screamed
dealt with stage fright. One friend asked if I had ever considered
inside myself. "SO WHAT? My mother just died a year ago –
bungee-jumping. ‘Why would I want to do that?” I countered,
that matters. Is all this important? I’ve worked, haven’t I? Fierce
“I already know the feeling of jumping off a cliff.” Here is one
Dragon Fear, I defy you!! Do your worst!" On and on I ranted,
story from my past that you may find helpful.
trembling. Then, just as I began to tire of the anger, I began to
Sometime during my college
feel strength surge through me. “OK,
years, I read about the Malaysian
Mr. Dragon, I am strong enough to
Senoi, best known for their work
overcome you. I don’t have to worry
with dreams. They teach their chil-
about you any more.” Then it all fell
dren such ideas as “Never run away
apart and I cried. I can’t be perfect,
from danger in a dream. If you see
I thought. And a voice came to me,
a monster, either overcome it or
“No, you can’t be perfect. You don’t
make friends with it.” I know my
need to be. Life isn’t perfect. It is
monster, I thought: stage fright. Can
beautiful, but it isn’t perfect. Just sing
I overcome it? Can I make friends
of your sorrow, sing of your grief, sing
with it?
of your loneliness, and you will reach
I went back to my little
people.”
bedroom in the rustic cabin I shared
Oh. Sing of my sorrow? My
with other young musicians, and
grief? My loneliness? I can do that. I
curled up in a fetal position under-
can share that with the listeners.
neath the covers, pillow over my
head. “All right, Mr. Dragon of My
and I rested. I remembered the love
Then a calmness came to me,
Fears, I challenge you! I will fight with you, and not run away!”
of my mother, the caring person I missed so much. I can sing of
My mental challenge struck me as childish, but I stuck with it,
my love for her, I thought. I can sing of the joy I shared with her,
imagining the absolute worst thing that could happen. The fear
and when the music calls for it, I can sing of the difficulties we
began to grow, and I still kept it as an image right between my
had. As I sing of my love for her I will sing of Love. As I sing of
eyebrows. After a few minutes I was shivering under the blan-
my loneliness and grief, I will be singing of Loneliness and Grief.
kets. What if I totally blew it? What if I played out of tune? What
The personal will be transmuted into the universal.
if I messed up? What if my peers thought less of me? What if
my teachers were disappointed? What if I embarrassed myself?
will be human, and some listeners will hear human sorrow and
Maybe I would get out there and not be able to do it at all. Sud-
joy, loneliness and love. That is enough.
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OCTOBER 24, 2013
I will sing through my violin, and I will not be perfect. I
It's All Hallow's Eve...er, Halloween!
by ANDREW NISSEN First-year MM Trombone
AN AUSTRALIAN RECALLS HIS FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH CANDY STEALERS
Naturally I attempted to invite every person I knew to this party, which was surprisingly easy for a seven-year-old whose social circle was confined to school and places his parents dragged him along to. I knew it would be a party of epic proportions and, most importantly, people would bring me gifts!
At the time I remained unaware of the predominately
North American tradition of trick-or-treating, but as I was extremely sympathetic to the idea of dressing up like someone else, my guests were instructed to come in their best "fancy dress." I dressed as a clown, a costume I found hilarious (unlike every other observer).
As the party rolled along, I remember inviting all the
guests in through our large front door. As the doorbell rang once more to signify what I assumed were more party guests bearing presents for yours truly, I galloped down the hallway and tore open the door. Imagine my shock when I was greeted by a flock of kids older than me, bigger than me, and wearAs a precocious child during the mid-90s in Australia, I despised Halloween, but I wasn’t scared of it. There were other more important reasons for my animosity. Now, as what some may consider an adult but in actuality more like an overgrown version of the kid from Problem Child, I have learned to appreciate the numerous gifts that "All Hallow’s Eve" has to offer. The gift of drinking, mostly. But also the gift of friendship, the ushering in of the beautiful season of Fall, and also the drinking. One thing still bothers me about the holiday of Jack ‘o Lanterns and cinnamon, though – call it a fear, even. There is nothing that scares me more about Halloween than the titular parties themselves.
Getting actually scared at Halloween seems to be
a rarity. The costumes are usually too fake to be legitimately scary or too humorous to be taken seriously. But the fear of social judgement? That is a real fear. Specifically, the act of choosing a costume terrifies me. This terror, I believe, took root in my childhood.
My birthday falls on October 28th (and yes, I did
just subtly invite you all to wish me a happy birthday on that day. I’ll be twenty-six this year and the gift I want more than anything is a Bandai Tamashii Nations Super Robot Chogokin Megazord). The year I turned seven, my birthday happened to fall on a Friday so my loving parents organized a birthday party on their next free day of the weekend – Sunday the 30th.
ing skeleton costumes! On top of that, did I hear them asking me for candy? Or had I fainted and started hallucinating? No. They WERE asking for candy, and my parents gave some to them!
Of course, this is a perfectly reasonable action to any
adult. But explaining to a seven-year-old why some older kids were getting MY candy on MY birthday was never going to be easy. To make matters worse, one of the uglier of the bunch sneered, “Clowns aren’t even scary!” through his bloody skeleton mask at me. “Clowns aren’t supposed to be scary,” I thought to myself. Surely, this was before I’d seen Tim Curry as Pennywise in Stephen King’s IT.
Remember when I told you my party was on the 30th?
It wasn’t even technically All Hallow’s Eve until the next day, yet the holiday had been indelibly tainted for me from then on. It came to signify a time when everyone was supposed to be paying attention to me and my birthday, but instead had other things on their mind. Well, until I grew up and learned the wonders of giving (and drinking). But growing up is never particularly amusing, is it?
As for me, I’ll conquer my fear of choosing a costume.
It’s a constant struggle, but I think I found the answer this year: the Sexy Bacon Costume from yandy.com. If I go on an all-carb diet, I may be able to squeeze into it by the 31st!
Happy Halloween, everyone!
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3
"Play Me, I'm Yours!"
by LUCI DISANO First-year GD Clarinet
What do a baby, a singer-songwriter, and a classical pianist have in
for a singalong of “Sweet Caroline.” And during one particularly rainy
common? No, this isn’t the beginning of a bad joke. Many of you may
afternoon, a crowd braved the weather to gather around for an
have noticed or even played on the painted piano that was installed
impromptu performance of the Super Mario Theme by EMI Artist
outside NEC for the first two weeks of October. This piano was just one
Niu Niu, who stopped by before a live taping of “From the Top"
of 75 pianos installed throughout the city as part of The Street Pianos
with Chrisopher O’Riley.
Boston Festival presented by Celebrity Series of Boston. The installation
is an artwork created by British artist Luke Jerram, called "Play Me I’m
together on a piano that was installed at the MFA. Since Shane is
Yours!" First seen in the United Kingdom in 2008, Jerram’s work has
a jazz major and Linda is a classical major, they performed an ar-
toured internationally, appearing in Paris, London, Barcelona, and other
rangement of “It’s Only a Paper Moon” for viola and piano. When
NEC students Shane Simpson and Linda Numagami performed
cities worldwide.
Though the installation
“tours,” the pianos do not. Each of the 75 pianos seen throughout Boston was transformed by a different local artist. So, what would the world be like if there were a piano on every street corner? As it turns out, the answer is: Really fantastic. The beauty of this festival is that the pianos are free and available for absolutely anyone to use. There were some
asked what it was like to perform on the MFA
"PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE NEVER TOUCHED A PIANO IN THEIR LIFE, THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO TOUCH ONE, PLAY ONE, SEE HOW IT SOUNDS AND FEELS…" – SHANE SIMPSON
scheduled professional performances,
piano, which was decorated with a larger-thanlife painter’s easel, Shane said he found it a bit “bizarre” at first, but thought it was fun to perform for people who might not otherwise get to experience live music. Both agreed that the community aspect of the festival is in large part what makes it so rewarding. By bringing pianos out into the open air, people who might not otherwise have access to live music can witness it up close, and artists have the opportunity to interact with their audience on a more personal level that isn’t necessarily possible in a concert hall.
but most of the time anyone on the street could simply walk up and play.
Kids all over the city could be seen plunking out a few notes, discover-
lowing:
ing the piano for the first time. Amateur pianists had a chance to try
their hands at Chopsticks or Für Elise for a captive audience. And often,
launderette. I saw the same people there each weekend and yet no one
someone would sit down and stun crowds with their unexpected piano
talked to one another. I suddenly realised that within a city, there must
talent.
be hundreds of these invisible communities, regularly spending time with
‘The idea for Play Me, I’m Yours came from visiting my local
Jerram’s piece aims to foster collaboration and community.
one another in silence. Placing a piano into the space was my solution
It has done that and so much more. The pianos provided venues for
to this problem, acting as a catalyst for conversation and changing the
emerging artists to be seen. Singer-songwriter Caitlin Timmins even re-
dynamics of a space.’
corded a live music video of her song, “Stop, Rewind, & Pause” on the
piano at City Hall Plaza. Strangers on Newbury Street crowded around
and bring our art to the community around us.
Photographs © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
In an explanation of the installation, Luke Jerram offers the fol-
4
OCTOBER 24, 2013
Thank you, Celebrity Series, for helping us break the silence
Remembering Drew Thompson The world lost a wonderful musician last week, and for many a
just teasing the heck out of me (especially when you called
great friend. We celebrate the life of Andrew "Drew"
me “Slagathore”). You will always be my favorite bassoonist,
Thompson (NEC Class of 2011), contrabassoonist and
inspire me, and make me smile."
bassoonist for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He fulfilled
– Cecilia Huerta (Class of 2011 · MM in Cello Performance)
every musician’s dream when he landed a job in his
hometown. Drew’s Boston family will forever remember his
want in music school: an inspiring player, a hard worker, and
intense loyalty, intellectual curiosity, ready smile, and big shoul-
tons of fun. Our ability to blend well started even before I
ders. Members of the NEC community share their
knew his name, and once we figured out we were both swing
remembrances of Drew...
dancers, we knew this was a friendship that was destined to
last. He was always warm, forgiving, and ready to find the
“I feel like Drew had the "right" balance: he worked
hard but knew have a good time and appreciate the simple
“Andrew was exactly the kind of friend anyone would
humor in any situation. So much more can be said to honor
and most obvious things. I can't
this incredible person, but what
count how many times we would
matters most now is for us to
hang out after a concert, or wait
remember that Drew loved his
together for our respective les-
friends more than anything in
sons at the backstage of the BSO.
the world, and his memory will
Drew had the real NEC spirit and
be kept by the love we have for
I will surely miss him terribly."
him.”
– Maya Jacobs (Class of 2011 ·
– Jennifer Berg (Class of 2011 ·
MM in Viola Performance)
MM in Oboe Performance)
“I first heard Drew's voice
"Drew will always be
family to me. During our growth at
when I was desperately search-
NEC, we celebrated our accom-
ing for a place to live in Boston
plishments together and supported
and anxious about the upcoming
each other through tough times.
major life transition of moving
His fearlessness gave us a model
up North. He called me and
of how to perform and live life to
offered me an open room in
its fullest potential. Drew, it has
his apartment, which instantly
been an honor performing with
relieved all my stress. His calm,
you - thank you so much for the
inviting voice was a welcome
impact you made in all our lives!
comfort for someone who had
– Randolph Palada (Class of 2012 - MM in Clarinet)
“Drew had that perfect combination of being a laser-
never lived in a big city or attended a music conservatory. Living with Drew was a pleasure beyond words. I will remember
focused, professional, dedicated musician while investing
his gentle demeanor, virtuosic bassoon playing, and his desire
in his other passions (like swing-dancing & flame-throwing)
to seek out and share camaraderie and friendship wherever he
and being a wonderful, happy person on top, always kind
went. For those looking to pay tribute to Drew, I'd recommend
and welcoming whether a new acquaintance or old friend.
taking a quick trip down Huntington and having a Gulden
He truly lived his life to the fullest and the world lost a HUGE
Draak at The Penguin, his favorite neighborhood bar.”
talent. Drew, thank you for those years in Chicago and Bos-
– Mark Williams (Class of 2013 · MM in Vocal Performance)
ton together, whether it was performing beautiful music with
you, teaching me how to swing-dance, playing Mario-Kart at
your life to the fullest: he danced his way into our lives, and his
your apartment, having Starbucks together, hanging out with
music will always be in our hearts.
our dear friends, trying new things, meeting new people, or
If there is one thing that Drew taught us, it is to live
– Anne Gregory
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
5
y r u r D Steve
penguin SPOTLIGHT BY ANDREW NISSEN
If you haven’t met Steve Drury yet, I suggest you do so as soon as possible – he’s a fascinating person! An NEC graduate himself, Steve joined the piano faculty after completing an Artist Diploma as a student of Patricia Zander. In addition to teaching and soloing, he serves as director of the renowned Callithumpian Consort and director of NEC- based Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice. Steve has worked with many of the big players in music of the 20th and 21st centuries, including John Cage, Helmet Lachenmann, Christian Wolff, Chaya Czernowin, and Lee Hyla. However, he also enjoys collaborating with non-musicians. Notably, Steve performed with choreographer Merce Cunningham, John Cage’s partner, in 1999-- the last time Cunningham ever danced in public. Drury played Cage’s Music for Marcel Duchamp while Cunningham and Mikhail Baryshnikov danced a duo around the plastic boxes Jasper Johns designed in tribute to Duchamp. “Cage would write a new piece for Merce, they’d agree on how long the piece was, and that PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY HURLBUT was it," Drury recalls. "They’d show up for the dress rehearsal and Merce was hearing the music for the first time. I asked Merce if he had made choreography to go with the phrases [for the performance in 1999] and he said “No, no.” In fact, I was a little worried because I was on stage at the New York City Theater and I didn’t want to be on there using music for a simple little piece. But the memory is tricky and I thought if I had a memory slip it would throw them off.” Not just content as a soloist, Steve is the founder and director of the successful NEC-based group Callithumpian Consort. Callithumpian Consort is filled with former NEC graduates, some of whom have also participated in Steve’s summer festival at NEC – SICPP. Both Callithumpian the group and Steve the
6
OCTOBER 24, 2013
soloist have several engagements down the road at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum throughout the season. Along with his wife, Yukiko Takagi, Steve is pioneering an interesting new concert series called In and Out Monday Afternoons at the Gardner’s impressive Calderwood Hall (editor's note: the Gardner is only a 15-minute walk from NEC!) This was the brainchild of museum curator Scott Nickrenz, the husband of NEC faculty member Paula Robison. Calderwood Hall consists of a perfect cube with a flat floor, in which the stage forms the center of the cube with rows of chairs along the walls on the floor and two elevated balconies above. This unique design will allow museum-goers to slip in at any point in the performance, “hopefully quietly,” Steve reminds, and stay anywhere from five minutes to two hours. Drury's former teacher in New York, William Masselos, used to give similar concerts for hours on end. "He would put a note in the program that said ‘Ingress, egress as you please,'" shares Drury, "and the idea for In and Out is essentially the same." At an In and Out concert in the coming spring, Steve and Callithumpian will be working with Roger Miller, former lead of punk band Mission of Burma. “I wasn’t a punk, but I followed [Mission of Burma],” Steve says. “For me Roger Miller was a legend, so it’s a real trip to be working with him.” In closing, Steve once again reiterates his passion for contemporary composers: "There’s no reason to assume that there’s not a composer alive today that you feel that you can commit to in the same way you would commit to playing music by Chopin, Brahms, or Haydn...God knows we have enough piano players playing Pictures at an Exhibition. There’s gotta be [a new composer] out there for you. If there’s not, man, get out of music and go be a banker or a politician. Young people are writing the music now, and that’s where my work came from.”
MEET YOUR STUDENT SENATORS! The NEC administration and Board of Trustees is thrilled to welcome our 4 new student senators! These students were chosen after a highly selective application process and they are here to serve YOU! Now that you know who they are, make sure your message is heard – email them with any concerns (or compliments!) you have about NEC: studentaffairs@necmusic.edu Classical guitarist Raley Beggs remains passionate about sharing and enlivening the rich traditions of the guitar. Currently pursuing his master's degree under esteemed artist and performer Eliot Fisk, Raley has found a suitable podium at New England Conservatory for which to share the music of his instrument. Raley performs widely throughout the Greater Boston Area as a soloist and chamber musician, and is an active member of the Community Performances and Partnerships Program (CPP). In addition to performing, he also enjoys writing for the Penguin and running unreasonably long distances. Born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, British-American Konrad Herath is a sophomore horn major at NEC. Apart from loving the works of Mahler, Stravinsky, and Richard Strauss, Konrad's non-musical interests include traveling, learning foreign languages, and reading the works of author John Irving. Much of his leisure time is spent watching Downton Abbey or shows connected with vampires. Konrad is also a big fan of late singer/actress Judy Garland. His family residence is now in the great state of Vermont, and he welcomes you to contact him at his NEC e-mail address: konrad.herath@necmusic.edu.
Tong Wang is an aspiring Canadian pianist currently in her sophomore year studying with Bruce Brubaker. Off stage, she‌practices. But! She also loves to write and draw for the Penguin, hang out with friends, watch movies, eat out, jam, laugh, and play volleyball and badminton at Cambridge every weekend. Tong is excited to be part of the Committee of Student Activities, and is seeking all of the interesting student voices and ideas waiting to be heard! You can reach her at her NEC email address: tong.wang@necmusic.edu
Elizabeth (Liz) Wendt is a sophomore studying classical voice. Last year, Liz was an honorary Committee of Student Affairs member where she shared her experience as a first year undergrad. This year, Liz will return to the round table as a member of the CSA where she hopes to contribute ideas to help make NEC and even better place. As a Student Senator, Liz is eager to hear the issues and concerns that NEC students would like to be addressed by administrators. If you have ideas that you would like for her to bring up in the next CSA meeting, contact her at elizabeth.wendt@necmusic.edu.
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
7
DAY-AT-A-GLANCE: A Recap of the EM Expo The first session of the day addressed a question that I
Fifth House
think weighs on many of us: what’s next after I graduate?
Ensemble’s
Ensemble members shared their own stories about how
cellist, Herine
they navigated the transition, and it was interesting to
Coetzee Koschak,
discover how completely different paths led each of them
shares her story.
BY LUCI DISANO
to Fifth House. The founding members of the group met at the Chicago Civic Orchestra, but have also enjoyed unique careers along the way. Violinist Andrew Williams told of how the teaching job he never really envisioned for himself turned out to be one of the most rewarding facets of his career. Flutist Melissa Snoza discussed the practicalities of interviewing for a job, and Jani Parson, the group’s pianist, shared strategies for building a private studio. Eric Snoza explained that every job, whether musical or not, should be seen as an opportunity. There were times that he had to take non-musical jobs to pay the bills, and he has brought the skills he learned along the way into his work with Fifth House. That’s right, guys. He had a day job. And he didn’t die! As a matter of fact, he now has a successful photography studio in addition to his music career.
Lunch gave us another opportunity to speak one-on-one with ensemble members. I had a memorable conversation with hornist DeAunn Davis. One of the founding members of Fifth House, she has left Chicago and is currently pursuing her DMA at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Andrew admits that for a short time he took up dog-walking to make ends meet! And, the kicker is, he shares that he learned extremely valuable skills from this seemingly simple job.
Her goal is to land a university teaching job and mentor a generation of hornists free from the “orchestral-musicianor-failure” mentality. The afternoon was split into two parallel sessions. I opted to attend the “funding your dreams” session, which was far more valuable and straightforward than I could have ever imagined. Melissa Snoza discussed the differences between for-profit and not-for-profit business models, walked us through the basics of working contracts, and demystified the grant writing process. The session served as an excellent get-started guide for those of us with entrepreneurial projects in mind. For me, Melissa’s presentation filled in the daunting gap between having a great idea and taking the first step toward bringing it to fruition.
8
OCTOBER 24, 2013
After a quick coffee break, Fifth House gave a moving performance of Black Violet, an original program that combines music by Walter Piston, Johannes Brahms, Jonathan Keren, Heitor Villa Lobos and Greg Simon with a story and artwork created by graphic-novelist Ezra Claytan Daniels. From the first note, there was something extremely special about the performance—I was struck by the passion and joy radiating from the group. These artists love what they do. If that wasn’t enough, there was an engaging and beautifully illustrated story to go with it. Having witnessed their performances, it’s no great surprise to me that Fifth House has had such success in reaching non-traditional audiences. Who would have imagined that a story about a spoiled black housecat in 17th century London could be so riveting? After a performance that was more than an hour long, I still wanted to hear more!
The Expo ended with a session entitled, “Putting Your Audience Center Stage,” in which ensemble members discussed the origins of Black Violet. To further their goal of bringing new audiences to classical music, Fifth House has found creative ways to bridge the gap for non-classical listeners. By offering an immersive experience that pairs their music with Daniels’ storytelling, they have created an opportunity to introduce graphic novel fans to the beauty and power of classical music. I consider myself very fortunate to have spent the day with Fifth House Ensemble. The ensemble is comprised of some of the most creative and driven people I have ever met. I was truly inspired by their enthusiasm and their willingness to share their hard-earned knowledge. Melissa explained that she had no fear of being put out of business by sharing
In the “Putting Your Audience Center
her experiences because the number of creative, innova-
Stage” session, Andria Nicodemou
tive ensembles that would have to exist in order to put Fifth
presents her “target audience” through
House out of business would certainly ensure a culturally-
narrative and cut-outs from magazines.
rich world.
SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR'S EM EXPO:
OCTOBER 26, 2014 WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
9
penguin FOOD Advice for the Cooking-Impaired
by LUCI DISANO First-year GD Clarinet
For many of you, this is your first time away from home or your
spent four hours making tamales from scratch, yikes!), but there
first time living in your own apartment, and that probably also
are tons of recipes out there that can be made with little prep
means that it's your first time trying to cook on your own. For
time. In general, I look for recipes with short ingredient lists.
those of you who fit in this category, I beg of you: no more
The fewer ingredients, the less time you have to spend peeling/
ramen noodles!!! I hear all kinds of reasons from people who
chopping/sautĂŠing them. Also, never shred your own cheese.
don't cook for themselves: it's too expensive, it takes too long,
Just pay a dollar extra for the pre-shredded stuff. I promise it's
or it's just too hard. But I want everyone to know that cooking
worth it!
doesn't have to be any of
Another big time-saver and a must-
the above! You don't need
have for novice cooks is a crock pot or
to be a gourmet chef in
slow cooker. If you don't have time to
order to enjoy healthy, deli-
stand over a stove for an hour, there are
cious home-cooked meals.
literally hundreds of crockpot recipes that
Trust me, you'll thank me
take maybe ten minutes of preparation.
when all the cafeteria food
After that, you just toss everything in the
starts to taste the same.
pot and turn it on. Recipes usually take
If you're eating on a
4-8 hours to cook this way, but they're
budget, the trick to saving
meant to be left alone during that time,
money is to know which
which means you can turn it on before
foods to buy. Generally
you leave in the morning and come back
pre-packaged or processed
to a delicious dinner just ready and wait-
foods cost a lot more than their raw counterparts. Red meat
ing. They can cook just about anything too, like soups, breads,
and cheeses can also run up your grocery bill. You don't have
desserts and even whole chickens! I recommend avoiding
to avoid them altogether; just use them sparingly.
overnight use unless you want to be awakened at 3 a.m. by
Eggs, on the other hand, are extremely cheap and very versatile. There are more than 100 ways to cook them!
the smell of chili (Yes, this has actually happened to me). To close, I'd like to put to rest the myth that cooking is hard.
Beans, lentils, and other legumes are also inexpensive,
It's really something that anyone can do with just a little prac-
especially if you buy them dried. Plus they're good for you!
tice and patience. I know it can be intimidating at first, but
In the veggie department, carrots, onions, celery, and broccoli
start simply and slowly build your skills. To the right, you'll find
are your best bets.
three recipes to get you started. You can try them when you
If you don't have a lot of time to cook, there are a few tricks
get tired of the usual fare, or use them to impress your friends
that will save you hours of time. You really can spend all day
at your next fall party. Two of them can even be made in
cooking if you want to make something really fancy (I once
a dorm room!
10
OCTOBER 24, 2013
CHEDDAR ALE SPREAD
BAKED ACORN SQUASH
PUMPKIN FLUFF DIP
You can find Luci's three recipes on the Penguin's website: www.NECpenguin.com
BY TONG WANG AND WESLEY CHU
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
11
penguin CONCERTS BY SOPHIE ADICKES
Experience Japan
WEDNESDAY OCT OBER 30, 4 P.M., PIERCE HALL Get a taste of the Japanese culture through the beautiful sounds of the Koto, a Japanese stringed musical instrument and the national instrument of Japan. Yoko Reikano Kimura, famous koto player and singer, along with her husband, cellist Hikaru Tamaki, will perform both contemporary and traditional pieces. Their concerts serve as a cross-cultural fusion of both Japanese and Western styles, making this an extremely unique experience that you won’t want to miss!
“Scary Movie” Night
TUESDAY, N OVEMBER 5, 8 P.M., JORDAN HALL In the spirit of Halloween, the students and faculty of NEC’s Contemporary Improvisation department will be performing a live, original score to three selected films from the genre of film noir: John Stahl’s Leave Her to Heaven, Otto Preminger’s Laura, and Preminger’s Whirlpool. Film noir is known for its more controversial, fatalistic, and dark themes that often center around crime. All three of these 1940s films feature Gene Tierney in the leading role and the films’ “femme fatale,” promising a night of mystery, music, and cinematic masterpiece.
A Night of Britten!
N OVEMBER 8, 6P.M., WILLIAMS HALL As a part of the Britten Centennial Concert series, NEC students, coached by Cameron Stowe and Tanya Blaich, will be performing solo pieces including original works and folk song arrangements by Benjamin Britten, George Butterworth, Kurt Weill, and Charles Ives. Make sure to notice how the pieces all revolve around the theme of war, appropriately setting the stage for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Britten War Requiem at 8pm the same night.
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OCTOBER 24, 2013
In Defense of Fall
by RALEY BEGGS Second-year MM Guitar
I can’t stand cold weather. For as long as I can remember
I turned inward and cold, less from the changing seasons
I’ve complained to no end about the pain and misery sur-
and more for the discomforts of being in a situation and cli-
rounding the feelings of any temperatures below 50 degrees
mate I’ve never experienced before. Clinging to my familiari-
Fahrenheit, vowing forever to avoid climates unsuitable for
ties, I fought it. And fall, above all else, is not to be fought.
palm trees and board shorts. Well, like so many youthful
promises I’ve made to myself only to be broken, here I am.
rejuvenation. Fall is a transition from the superficial, rocket-
Boston. Famous not for its excess of palm trees and sunshine,
fueled types of fun associated with summer into the pensive
but instead for unpredictable and ruthlessly cold weather.
and thoughtful rewards of winter. It is itself a personal
growth– a shedding of one’s past to make room for one’s
Perhaps this feeling isn’t so foreign to all of us. One
of the finest qualities of NEC is the incredible diversity of the
What nobody told me then was that fall is a time for
future. To deny the transition is to deny nature.
student body, which includes
those of us who are not ac-
sons until facing their inevitability.
customed to below-freezing
I recognized my whining wasn’t
temperatures. Those of us who
helping, and that the seasons
have never faced questions like:
would continue as scheduled–
How can it be this cold and still
with or without my approval.
be raining? How much snow is
enough to cancel school? Who
seems preposterous. Fact: Boston
in their right mind decided to
gets cold. I’m not claiming to
stay here in the 1600s?
have been logical about the
Some of you haven’t been
process, I’m only admitting to my
here long enough to ponder
childish resistance to the seasons.
the bulletproof logic of staying
When you haven’t experienced
inside for a month or more, but
them they somehow seem avoid-
we now find ourselves at the
able, like they don’t apply to
very end of days that guarantee
you.
warmth and now peer over a
cliff of uncertainty (and a whole
ing up to experience your first
lot of snow!). This cliff, in New England, is named “Fall."
PHOTO COURTESY CELINE CHAMBERLIN
Fall is one of the four seasons, another new concept
I hadn’t learned these les-
Thinking back, that fight
To those of you now gear-
round of seasons: don’t resist them. You’re from a warmer climate– yes, we’ve heard. But now you live in Boston, and
for some of us, and is marked most famously by turning
you’re likely to stay for awhile. There are two ways you can
leaves of trees all too familiar with what is to come. Fall is
handle this new reality. The first involves a long, prolonged,
the part of the year where you start to very seriously doubt
and exceedingly cold plummet into the pits of winter, ac-
the functionality of your wardrobe. Fall is the gravestone
companied by a distinct feeling of being a fish swimming
season atop any delusions you’ve held thus far-- delusions
upstream. Last year, this was my choice. The second involves
like comfort, warmth, and physical and mental well-being.
two investments: good boots and a really, really good jacket.
It also involves acceptance and a keen eye for the beauty
Last year, Fall was when I myself began to wither
and lose my leaves. I started to forget all the things that
found in places the planet hasn’t had the chance to show you
made up my personality, which had become delirious and
yet. With the proper clothing and a smile, the cliff you now
numb from my first encounters with plummeting temperatures.
peer over will seamlessly turn into a fall you won’t forget.
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penguins GET CREATIVE FLORESTAN AND EUSEBIUS SAY HELLO BY ISABELLA DAWIS
THE PENGUIN N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
Editor's note: Florestan and Eusebius are two fictitious personalities created by composer Robert Schumann. They represent two sides of his bipolar personality. Florestan: Eusebius and I have noticed that you’ve been paying a lot of attention to Robert Schumann and his music. But you don’t pay nearly as much attention to us. Eusebius: It’s understandable, because both of us are best friends with Schumann, and all three of us are composers. It may be difficult to distinguish which one is which. F: We’ll try to make it easier for you. E: The basic difference is that Florestan is bold, rash, and passionate, while I am thoughtful, lyrical, and dreamy. F: So, I’m a man and Eusebius is a girl. E: Your name is Florestan. F: Or you could think about it like this—I skydive and swim with sharks, and Eusebius picks flowers. I’m really fun to talk to, and when you talk to Eusebius, you get confused because sometimes he stops talking and his eyes glaze over. E: Florestan likes to say outlandish, silly things, and then he changes his mind. I take the time to choose my words carefully, so when I do say something, it’s quietly profound. F: Eusebius will move you to tears, and it’s very, very painful. E: Hey! We don’t normally fight like this. Without Schumann, the balance is totally off. F: Sorry. We’ve been under a lot of stress lately. E: Commanding the League of David is tough. Suiting up every day to fight the Philistines, battling mediocrity in all its tiresome forms… It’s brutal, thankless work. Dude: No way! You guys are on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? E: What? F: Are they anti-Rossini? E: Have no fear. The enemy will be overthrown. It may take a couple hundred more years—but we will slay every one of those tasteless Philistines. Just saying. We’re working hard. Doesn’t hurt to give a little credit where it’s due. F: Ask yourself—when you’re drifting off to sleep at night, happily humming symphonies of Beethoven and Brahms—who’s keeping you safe from harmful music? Who do you have to thank for protecting you from all the bad music out there? E: Think about it.
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OCTOBER 24, 2013
PENGUIN PENMEN Kate Lemmon, editor Suzanne Hegland, faculty editor Sophia (Sophie) Adickes, writer Natalie Alper-Leroux, creative Raley Beggs, writer Isabella Dawis, writer Luci Disano, writer Stephen Garman, webmaster Andrew Nissen, writer Akenya Seymour, writer Nick Tisherman, writer Liz Tobias, writer Tong Wang, illustrator
SUBMISSION
DEADLINE FOR
NOVEMBER:
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 SUBMIT! If you'd like to contribute an article, illustration, or idea, email a 1-2 sentence proposal to: thepenguin@necmusic.edu Please limit submissions to 650 words.
ZODIAC OF THE MONTH BY AKENYA SEYMOUR
LIBRA
(APPROX. SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) These social butterflies are lovers of peace, harmony, balance, and aesthetic beauty, much like their Venus ruled counterpart Taurus. Though Libras long for equilibrium, they tend to bounce from one extreme to another, seamlessly charming those around them to stay on board. They generally exercise diplomacy and fairness, often taking into account both edges of the sword, which may indeed add to their lack of ability make a solid decision.
D N A , K N I R D , EAT
Y R A C S E B W O L L A H S ' C E N @
! E C N A EEN D
Artistic souls, Libras are often particularly musically or lyrically inclined, and many are leaders for social and political justice, which is quite aptly embodied by the scale. Though Librans are friendly and fun-loving, as an air sign their energy tends to be cool and laid back, contributing to their leisurely pace
Monday, October 28 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Brown Hall!
in life...or laziness. And their charisma easily makes up for their vanity....or enhances it. Either way, Libras make great friends, partners, and associates. Just be prepared for all the ups, downs, and maybes that come along with them. PLANETARY RULER: Venus DIRECT OPPOSITE (DETRIMENT): Aries POSITIVE TRAITS: Social, Fair, Artistic, Optimistic NEGATIVE TRAITS: Lazy, Indecisive, Narcissistic FAMOUS LIBRA MUSICIANS: John Coltrane (Jazz Saxophonist/Composer) Luciano Pavarotti (Operatic Tenor) Marshall “Eminem” Mathers (Rapper/Emcee) Esperanza Spalding (Jazz Singer/Bassist) FAMOUS LIBRA NON-MUSICIANS: Rumi (Poet/Theologian/Sufi Mystic) Mahatma Ghandi (Indian Independence Leader) Eleanor Roosevelt (32nd First Lady) e.e. cummings (Poet/Playwright/Painter)
PUMPKIN CARVING PUMPKIN & COOKIE DECORATING BEST COSTUME CONTEST YOUR PEERS SINGING POP MUSIC AND MORE! Be sure to come dressed to impress (or scare!) in your best costumes, ready to party, ready to dance, and ready to have a "Thriller" of a night! Sponsored by the SAC in partnership with the AASU.
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penguin PHOTOS by Andy Hurlbut
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1) Sarod master Amjad Ali Khan leads a workshop on September 16. 2) Timpanist Andres Pichardo performs in the first NEC Philharmonia concert of the year. 3) Principal cellist Julia Yang performs Brahms' Symphony No. 1. 4) Erica Washburn (Director of Choral Activities at NEC) performs in recital, joined by tenor Pablo Bustos. 5) Renowned mezzo soprano Marilyn Horne gives a masterclass in early October. 6) Adèle-Marie Buis takes a solo bow after her performance in Tan Dun's Concerto for Orchestra. 7) Gillian Lynn Cotter sings the role of Sesto in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito.
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OCTOBER 24, 2013 | WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM